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Edinburgh life
Sat 17
Other events
30/20 Craft & Design Fair Assembly Rooms. 54 George Street. 220 4349. l().3()am—4.3()pm. 90p (60p). Contemporary craft. design and artworks direct from the makers themselves. Antiques Lyon & Turnbull. 33 Broughton Place. 557 88-1-1. l lam. Free. Browse or buy from a range of antiques. Jewellery Making .\'orth Edinburgh Arts Centre. 15a Pennywell Court. 315 2151. 1 lam & 2pm. £1.50. Design and make your own jewellery with the help of artist Angela Austin.
Guided Tours - Gaels and Plants Royal Botanic (iarden. lnverleith Row. 552 7171. 2pm. £3. Learn about the traditions and folklore that surrounds some of our well-known plants and learn some common Gaelic plant and tree names.
Sunday 18
Other events 30/20 Craft 8. Design Fair
Assembly Rooms. 54 (ieorge Street. 220
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434‘). l().3()am—4.3()pm. 90p (60p). See Sat 17.
Monday 19
Other events
Silver & Jewellery Lyon & Turnbull. 33 Broughton Place. 557 88-1-1. 1 lam. Free. An array of antiques on display to browse or buy.
Tuesday 20
Talks
Astronomy in Hawaii Royal Observatory Visitor Centre. Blackford Hill. (368 8404. 7.3()-8.3()pm. £2 (£1). The ever-impressive staff at the Royal Observatory wax lyrical as lan Robson casts his net a little further afield to Hawaii. land of beaches. volcanoes and astronomy. Find out why astronomers have made Hawaii the capital of observational astronomy. linthusiasts should check out the public observing time available every Friday frotn October through to March. with activities and events for the whole family.
Wednesday 21
Talks
Artists on their Work National Portrait (iallery. 1 Queen Street. 62-1 6200. 12.45pm. l-‘ree. Alison Kinnaird gives a talk on her portrait of Roy Dennis.
Edinburqh' oval Obseatory
Thursday 22
Book Events
Big Word Performance Poetry The Tron. 9 Hunter Square. High Street. 226 0931. 9pm. £3 (£2). Iidinburgh slam champion Milton Balgoni joins [Elspeth Murray. Richard Medrington. lillie Walton and compcre Jem Rolls for the fortnightly cabaret.
Talks
After Hours - a Poetry Tour National (iallery of Scotland. The Mound. 624 6200. (3pm. Free. A programme of after gallery hours events featuring readings of the theme of travel with Catherine ()wen from Queen Margaret lfniversity College.
Thomas Mackay: The One O’Clock Gun South Morningside School. ('omiston Road. 7 9pm. £2. Talk organised by the Morningside lleritage Association.
Other events
From Culloden to Quebec lidinburgh Castle. Royal Mile. 225 98-16. 11am 3.30pm. £8 (£2 £6.25). See Thu 8.
Get Equipped for the Classroom Scottish Book Trust. Trunk's Close. 55 High Street. ()131 52-1 0160. 9am. £15. Lindsey l-‘raser leads this development day. which showcases her extensive experience in readership and writer development.
Maxwell telescope, Mauna Kea Observatory, Hawaii
1. The Observatory's there to make all the things we don’t understand that much clearer. For example. the Milky Way is more than a bar of chocolate. And we can see it and are also in it because essentially the Milky Way is like a big. translucent pancake. The big strip you see in the sky as the Milky Way is the light from many of the stars in our disk-shaped galaxy. The Milky Way seems to wrap around the whole sky because of the pancake—shape that surrounds us.
2. All of the stars that have names (about 2—300 of them) were named between 500 and 2000+- years ago. so you can get to know them intimately. Most of the star names in use today came from Arabic origins and these days most stars are named for their coordinates. Check out the Observatory's Tue night public viewings for a closer inspection.
3. 2007: A Space Odyssey: science fiction in the truest sense of the genre and based on the book by Sir Arthur C. Clarke. Odyssey is the definitive exploration of humanity's place in the universe. Released. coincidentally. at the height of the space race between the USSR and the US im 1968. this epic film contains more spectacular imagery and special effects than verbal dialogue. Director Stanley Kubrick's work is a profound. visionary and astounding film and a tremendous visual experience. A visit to the Observatory may just be the ticket to help understand how Kubrick found his inspiration and created one of the greatest masterpieces of all time.
I The Royal Observatory continues its lecture series for 2004 on Tue 20 with Astronomy in Hawaii. See listings for
full details.
88 THE LIST 8—22 Jan 2004
WATCHTHISSPACE
City life editor Anna Millar picks out the hidden gems for 2004
The Edinburgh Easter Festival (Apr) had its initial jaunt in 2003 and took the capital by stOrm. Performers from around the world entertained the massive. exuberant crowds throughout the fabulous three-day extravaganza with a wide range of family friendly events. 2004 festivities look set to build on the initial promise. For more details call 0208 566 8586.
If you feel the need for a new year tipple to warm the cockles, check out the Caledonian Brewery Beer Festival (Jun). You can sample a wide selection of beers from around the world. served up with international food and live music. See www.caledonian- brewerycouk.
For something with a more arty vibe check out the Meadows Festival (Jun). This two-day community festival comes complete with live bands, street theatre. fun fair and stalls. Some of the highlights include performance poetry. food and refreshments, musicians. skater ramps. and a specially designed ac0ustic area. See www.meadows festivalcouk.
lf getting back to nature makes you feel warm of heart you can't go wrong with Edinburgh Treefest (Jun). This celebration of trees and forests. featuring crafts. entertainment. environmental stalls. displays and interactive activities examines the vital role that trees. woods and forests play in our health and heritage. Log onto www.four-winds.org.uk.
Last but certainly not least. you cannot afford to miss the Edinburgh Mela (Aug). This fantastic multicultural event (pictured) comes hot on the heels of big boys like the Fringe. the ElF, the International Jazz. Film and Book Festivals and proves unequivocally that events on a smaller scale can be just as necessary. not to mention flamboyant. Call 0737 557 7400.